World Series Game 5 pitching rotation conundrum (P.S.)

I'm probably giving this too much thought, but here's the dilemma:

My 1947-1966 Dodgers are up 3 games to 1 against the 1947-1966 Tigers in the finals (or World Series as I like to refer to it) of one of the installments of Andy Cummings theme leagues.

Koufax and Drysdale were efficient in games 1 and 2 at Dodger Stadium, so I was up 2-0 going into Detroit. Newcombe, Perranoski and King literally threw batting practice to the Detroit sluggers in game 3, final 16-1. The ghosts of Cobb, Greenberg and Cochrane were blowing groundballs and popups into the holes for the Tigers' 20 hits that game. PLUS, the Duke went down in the 8th, lost to the Bums until Game 6.

In game 4, armed with rabbit's feet, garlic gloves (and probably an emery board) in his pockets, Sal Maglie (yes Giants fans, Sal was a Dodger also) took to the mound to face the likes of Cash, Kaline, Colavito, Freehan and company. After a shaky 2nd inning in which the Tigers went up 4-2, it looked like it was going to be batting practice, day 2, at '41 Briggs Stadium.
But ol' Sal settled down, and handcuffed the Tigers the rest of the way, except for a 6th inning home run by George Kell which put the Cats up 5-4.

But, true to his should be Hall of Fame form (of which he isn't in the HOF, but should be, and which is a damn shame) Gil Hodges tripled in Campanella in the 7th to tie and then homered into the left field bleachers in the 9th to win this excitin' (at least to the Bums' fans) see-saw battle.

So - the conundrum facing me:

Do I go with Koufax in game 5 at the launching pad of Briggs Stadium today, or save him and Drysdale for a probable trip back to Dodger Stadium and games 6 and 7? Remember Snider is out of the line-up until Game 6, so not available today. Surprisingly, Koufax and Drysdale are only a combine 23-16 in the pitcher friendly park of Dodger Stadium '64, while a combined 30-9 on the road. That's really odd. My only option as an alternate starter today would be the .99 cent Joe Black, line for the entire season: 1 win, 2 innings pitched, no walks, one strikeout, no hits, no runs - but plenty of splinters in his backside.

That's the story in a nutshell (it was one of those long Brazilian nuts). What would you do??


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Sandy Koufax was on form - da Bums win the game, 9-3, and the World Series. Ticker-tape parade through Brooklyn!!

I assume u have the Koufax with the 3 BP HRs - no matter - Koufax and Drysdale in 5 & 6 - play ur best

Very entertaining writeup. If I follow it correcty ...

Newcomb started game 3 and thus cannot start until game 7
Maglie started game 4 and thus cannot start rest of series.

Unless you plan on running Black out there in game 5, giving it away, and probably wearing out your bullpen in the process you have no choice but to start whomever started game 1 in game 5. In my opinion starting Black is not an option at all. If you could do this head to head and force him to pitch entire game no matter how many runs he allows you might try that though I wouldn't. But with no control he get chased in the first and everyone in your bullpen could be fatigued for game 6. Wouldn't you be upset if a reliever pitched 3 innings and then gave up runs in game 6 causing a loss because they were at F5 or something.

This sort of decision has to be made before the series. You have to look at Koufax and Drysdale and decide who will pitch the road game. That guy starts game 1 and 5. Once those first 2 games are played you are committed for better or worse.

Always go with your best when it matters.

Doesn't matter. The Tigers will came back and win in seven, just like they did to the 1968 Cards.

Go with your regular rotation.

Two things:

Jackie knows how to slide when coming home - just ask the Yogi. (reference - Lou Brock getting thrown out at the plate because he didn't slide - forget which game that was).

The Duke of Flatbush knows how to go back on a fly ball. (reference - Curt Flood's costly error I believe in game 7).


Thanks for all the advice guys. Yeah - I was going to stick with the normal rotation. Especially when I saw that home field didn't mean a whole lot to Koufax during the regular season, or for the team in general. They were barely above .500 at home.

Go with Joe Black. What the heck? The Tigers need to wear out their bats before heading to the spacious confines of
Dodger Stadium! I wouldn't steer you wrong, would I? Just because I happen to be skippering your World Series opponent!



Kevin A

Koufax came thru. Dodgers win the series, Dodgers win the series!

The Boys of Summer are on top once more.


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